Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1887-01-15
The Story of a Carpet.

| ho Owl VA q ObA ltCts
| A lady gives the following account OF
her experience with n negro man whom
she had engaged to take up and clean
a carpe. and put 1t down again:
He had told me that he would be on
hand bright an airly,' and even hint
ed at the possibility OF his coming by
daylight
III you are here by half-past it wiz
do . said.
Ia'.pas' sebcn. ladyl Dat am
mons'tou late TO man to begin
days wuk. Use mo- likely to be roun'
by ha' pas G, lady"
Half-past 7 came and went the next
day. and no Jerry, Eight o'clock.
and no Jerry. At hals-past he came
leisurely sauntering into the yard.
'IIow is this, Jerryon l asked
"You said you would surely be here by
half past Z"
$50 ! did, lady, SO | did; an how J
happened to oberslcep myse'f dis
mawnin' is de mos main crcum,
stance. Mos gln'rally Use up TO day
But I'll hab dat kyarpet up an out'n
de back ya'd lese'n no time"
"It's so late. you'll have to hurry il
you get it all done to-day" "
'Sho. lady! Hits jess play TO me to
take up kyarpet Ike dat clean hif
an put hit down in free hours.
A little after went into the room
Jerry had the tacks out on three side,
OF the carpet. and was lying flat op
his back staring up at the ceiling.
II 'clar, lady" he said, 'dat's de
puttiest wuk on dat ceilin' eber saw!
Use tryin' an tryin' to make out il hii
am reely painted on dar. or if hit am
only papered on"
You'd better let the ceiling alone
and get this carpet out on the line right
away" ! said sharply.
Don yo' min bout dis kyarpet,
lady Hit'll bo out O. hyar in free
shakes OBJ dead sleeps tail, " he said
AT 10 o'clock ! again went into tho
room. Jerry had folded the carpet up
in the middle of the room aud was sit
ting on it.
"Takin up kyarpets is kind o. waxin
wuk, he said. Il mos allus has somo
one to help me-"
.'You don t need any help in cleaning
n small carpet like this. said.
"La, no, lady! | could clean di,
kyarpet wild one hand tied behind me. -
1t was II o clock when jerry got the
carpet on the line, Ten minutes latei
he had d sappeared, My little boy
found him two blocks away, in per
feet ecstacy over hand-organ and
monkey.
81 'clar, ma am, dat am de smartest
monkey! Hit do beat all! Wunner +
hit makes much money!" he said. wher
he came back.
He gave the carpet few listless
strokes with an old broom-handle, and
then laid h mself down on the gras.
clean tired out. "
Ten minutes later found him initial
ing my little boy in the mysteries o
"mumble-the-peg,"
'Jerryp' / said, pointing majesticall,
to the carpet.
YES lady, hits all cleaned. I'll pu'
hit down in ten minutes.
ut is not half cleaned" l said.
"Y on have not beaten one tenth of tn,
dust out Of it.
"All right, lady, all right" he said,
omniously. 'Hit's yo kyarpet. an
reckon yo' can stan de loss if beats
hit to rags. Use pounded dat kyarpe
al! hit'll stan, lady, but hits 80
kyarpet" "
But why write moreo AT 5 o'clocs
that carpet was still on the line, ano
Jerry was leaning over the back fence
watching two boys playing at marbles
in the ai,ey. At o'clock he.draggeo
the carpet into the house and wanted
his pay for that day. saying that he
would get man to help him and gil
dat kyarpet down quoker'n wink the
next day"
paid him for half days work, bade
him good-by forever. and put the car.
pet down myuelf the next day. Youths
Co1lDdlton